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arXiv 0710.0875astro-ph
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恒星初始质量函数的宇宙演化证据

Evidence of Cosmic Evolution of the Stellar Initial Mass Function

Pieter van Dokkum

摘要:

理论论证和间接观测证据表明,恒星初始质量函数(IMF)可能会随时间演化,使得它更倾向于在更高的红移处的高质量恒星。在这里,我们通过比较星系团中0.02<z<0.83的大质量早型星系的光度演化速率和它们的颜色演化速率来验证这个想法。对静止坐标系U-V色演化和先前测量的M/L_B比演化的组合拟合给出了在1太阳质量附近区域IMF对数斜率的x~-0.3,比现在银河系盘中x=1.3的值更平坦。大质量星系团中恒星的最佳拟合的光度加权形成红移为~3.7,一种可能的解释是特征质量m_c在z~4处的值为~2个太阳质量(而今天的m_c为~0.1个太阳质量),这与分子云中特征质量是Jeans质量的函数的模型定性一致。这样一个“底光”的大质量星系团的IMF有显着的影响,解释测量的星系形成和演化。将一个简单的IMF演化形式应用于文献数据,我们发现在高红移下的体积平均恒星形成速率可能被高估了(在z>4时被高估了3-4倍),宇宙恒星形成历史可能在z~1.5处有一个相当明确的峰值。星系的M/L_V比的影响小于它们的恒星形成率,未来关于z>3时恒星质量密度的数据将对IMF演化提供进一步的约束。形式上的错误可能低估了不确定性,这些结果的确认需要更大的聚类样本和在分析中包含更红的静止帧颜色。

英文摘要:

Theoretical arguments and indirect observational evidence suggest that the stellar initial mass function (IMF) may evolve with time, such that it is more weighted toward high mass stars at higher redshift. Here we test this idea by comparing the rate of luminosity evolution of massive early-type galaxies in clusters at 0.02<z<0.83 to the rate of their color evolution. A combined fit to the rest-frame U-V color evolution and the previously measured evolution of the M/L_B ratio gives x~-0.3 for the logarithmic slope of the IMF in the region around 1 Solar mass, flatter than the present-day value in the Milky Way disk of x=1.3. The best-fitting luminosity-weighted formation redshift of the stars in massive cluster galaxies is ~3.7, and a possible interpretation is that the characteristic mass m_c had a value of ~2 Solar masses at z~4 (compared to m_c~0.1 Solar masses today), in qualitative agreement with models in which the characteristic mass is a function of the Jeans mass in molecular clouds. Such a ``bottom-light'' IMF for massive cluster galaxies has significant implications for the interpretation of measurements of galaxy formation and evolution. Applying a simple form of IMF evolution to literature data, we find that the volume-averaged star formation rate at high redshift may have been overestimated (by a factor of 3-4 at z>4), and the cosmic star formation history may have a fairly well-defined peak at z~1.5. The M/L_V ratios of galaxies are less affected than their star formation rates, and future data on the stellar mass density at z>3 will provide further constraints on IMF evolution. The formal errors likely underestimate the uncertainties, and confirmation of thes results requires a larger sample of clusters and the inclusion of redder rest-frame colors in the analysis.

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